Tax Resources from TaxMama.com

TaxMama.Com
Tax Information With A Mother's Touch

Published by Eva Rosenberg, MBA, EA

Starting a new business ~

The IRS small business site -
Information for self-employed entrepreneurs, employers and small - large businesses. There are a broad range of resources across federal and state agencies, as well as industry/profession specific information. This is a good place to start.

Get your IRS Employer ID Number Online - NOW
Read the instructions, first. But you can get your TIN instantly using IRS's electronic application.

California E-Business Center -
Information for businesses based in California.

Tax Planning Tools -
Legal and Sensible Ways to Keep Your Taxes Low

Basic Tax Library ~

THE Basics for your tax practice –

IRS Forms and Publications -

IRS Teens and Community Pages –
Fun Place to Visit

Unclaimed or Lost Refunds -
IRS has $67 million in unclaimed refunds. Do they have your money?

California Unclaimed Property –
Check here to see if you lost a bank account, tax refund or other property

US Internal Revenue Code -
If you want to really get to sleep fast ... here is the complete Tax Code online – even the name is long - United States Internal Revenue Code, Title 26 of the U.S. Code (26 USC)

All 50 States' Taxing Authorities -
Simplified Tax and Wage Reporting System

Tax & Accounting Sites Directory -
Extensive resource for all links to tax and accounting issues developed by Professor Dennis Schmidt. This is one of the two best places to start if you are going to do any research.

Get a Social Security Number -
If you didn't already do it at the hospital when your baby was born, do it now! And to fill out that form, here are the things you'll need and the instructions.

SS Verification -
You can verify whether or not the ss# is valid.

Tax World -
Dr. Thomas C. Omer's extensive collection of tax-related information. There are research links, as well as links to educational tools and role-playing Communities. TaxWorld.org and TaxSites.com are my two starting points for all searches.

About Com: Federal Spending -
Where your government spends your money

Tax & Accounting News ~

CCH -

Tax Analysts Tax Wire -

AccountingEducation.com - For news, tips and education for accountants and tax professionals worldwide. A great way to get continuing education - and write off a trip.

Incorporating Your Business~

IncCentral -
If you're going to incorporate or form an LLC, this service offers low prices, includes all state and local fees. If you need an agent of service, I've negotiated a $25.00 discount for you, if you use the link above. Yes, they'll set you up. But, you DO still want to meet with a competent tax professional

For budget incorporations, there's Hubco who offers a $99 price, plus the state filing fees. Only, be careful. This low price doesn't even include shipping. Every little thing is extra.

Canadian Tax Resources
Revenue Canada or Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) -
Canada's national tax agency has both French and English information.

Links to Canada's Provincial Tax Agencies -
Canada's provinces are like US states. They each have an array of taxes they collect and regulate. You can find each province's tax links listed here.

Ufile.com -
Jacques Richard of Vancouver's WheelsForMovies.com uses this. He sends us this quote from their site:
”If you, or you and your spouse (married or common-law), have a total annual income of $20,000 or less, you will not be charged any fee to print or NetFile your return(s) with UFile.”

Payroll ~

You ought to try one of these services. All of them have online access.

These are the companies where I send my own clients. Let's face it, doing payroll is about as time-consuming for one employee as it is for 50. It's just not cost-effective to do it in-house.

CBS Payroll -
I work with Jim Burke 800-339-7373 ext 103. He always takes care of us.

PayChex -
For great service, call Susan Katz in Southern California - 818-654-1025

Quick Books Payroll -
If you are going to use QuickBooks for your accounting, you may want to contact them for your payroll, too, and have it integrated into your system. If you tell them TaxMama sent you, they will waive the $100 set up fee.

Tax Legislation and Government ~

Senate Finance Committee -

Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation -
Visit this site for information about how your Company should be handling the money they took from your paycheck [provided by tax pro, Steve Odem]

Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration -
For those who love to see IRS under a microscope. Read the oversight reports about IRS activities and goals. [provided by Alex Ivaschenko]

Interesting Tools ~

Smart Pros -
Tax and accounting news, discussions, continuing education ... reat articles – lots of current information ... job openings, too. Free newsletters for students, job seekers, tax pros ... more

GSA -
Per Diem Rate Information across USA and overseas – From the U.S. General Services Administration. This site is particularly useful as it provides both current and prior rates – IRS's site generally only shows the last year's info - unless you know how to find their press releases

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis -
Federal Reserve Exchange Rates and balance of Trade Reports. Working on tax returns, estates, prior year returns and need old exchange rates? Here is the definitive resource, dating back to 1971. There's also a wealth of economic/trade information for various products

Health Insurance Portability Act -
Look up your state's rules about every kind of employer-provided insurance plan and your rights, within the law

Applicable Federal Rates -
Looking for legal interest rates for the current period? Concerned about imputed interest? Need to the know the what the minimum allowable interest rate was 5 years ago? Daniel B. Evans maintains this site

GuideStar Directory of Non-Profit Organizations -
Want to make a donation? Need to look up the status, Federal ID # or information about someone who says they're non-profit? Want to know how much is reasonable compensation for your organization?

Motley Fool's Tax Discussion Boards –
Free information about tax issues. You'd be surprised at the quality of the people who provide answers. Maybe even your TaxMama ...

Accountant's World -
Accountant's World will send you daily news about tax events and issues. They also have a tax calendar that let's you see all the things that are due on a given day, across the USA

Tax Links -
A little to javamated for me ... but great links to searchable Databases for tax research, directories of professional organizations.

Quicken -
Free Tax Return Preparation for incomes up to $25,000

TMI QuickFinders –
Inexpensive guides – essential to building a Professional Tax library

CFS – Tax Tools –
Fill-in Forms and worksheets essential to everyday client contact. They have other software and tools for research, payroll, amending returns, human resources, etc.

Agri-BizPlan - They provide the tools for a fully deductible medical plan for family businesses. Very reasonable pricing - can save you over $2,000 per year.

FileTax.com -
Payroll-related

Nation's Tax -
Payroll, sales tax, EFTPS

Inflation Calculator -
Look at what your money was worth! An inflation calculator of the CPI between 1800 and 2000 It's a fun tool playing with historical data

Nanny Tax -
If you have household help and don't know how to eal with all the tax forms and issues ... .for about $50 - $100 per year, they'll take care of it all.

Sales Tax Info -

Professional City -
The online resource center for all kinds of professionals – Taxation, Human Resources, Lqaw, Technology, more – Get statistics, information about competitors, trend analysis ...

College & IRA Sites ~

College Savings Plans Network -
This is part of the National Association of State Treasurers. They provide information about the various plans and options offered by each states for its residents. Drop by and look up your state, or the state where you/your children plan to study.

Saving for College.Com -
All the information you'll ever need on the Sec 529 college savings plans. Joe Hurley rates plans and shows the returns you can expect on your investments.

FastWeb -
A free resource to locate college scholarships. They boast a database of over 600,000 scholarships totaling over $1 billion!

Roth IRA Info -
Clearinghouse for Roth IRA information. Lots of articles and resources for this complicated issue.

Ed Slott's IRA Tax Center -
IRA Information – Clear up the confusion

Offshore Finances ~

--- NOTE --- TaxMama makes no recommendations and gives no assurances when it comes to dealing with your money offshore. But here are some resources that might help you do research and find tools and contacts. Please consult a specialist in this area before taking any action.

Book - Tax the Rude, Not Me! -
By Sylvia Zamchyn and Tom Dwyer
A uniquely clever new book that proposes the rude, selfish, greedy and annoying be taxed for their bad attitudes and bad behavior. Let's shift the tax burden to those who bust our chops, take advantage, or mistreat us. Tongue-in-cheek treatment of tax issues.

IRS PHONE NUMBERS -

From: "Frank W Webster"

Dear Eva,

I do a lot of electronic filing with direct deposit for my clients, with very little problem since I insist on seeing a check or getting a voided copy of we've using fax or mail.

The two numbers for direct deposit are

800-829-4477 for the automated information about the returns status (also good for e-file returns with paper checks)

800-808-4262 for problems with refunds, lost/mis-directed payments, etc.

Frank

Career Bank -
Tax and Accounting Jobs